Geomorphic and geologic controls on topography and accommodation space for organic carbon storage in mountain drainage basins

陆地有机碳是全球碳循环的重要组成部分，通过一系列复杂的反馈与气候变化和土地利用变化相关。为了更好地了解陆地碳的保留和转移机制，需要进一步的研究，因为它仍然是碳循环中最不为人所知的部分之一。该研究对陆地碳的理解的新贡献在于，它将地形控制因素与山地景观中有机碳储存空间的位置明确联系起来。山坡和河流系统将岩石圈和地表/地下水流与大气和海洋连接起来，同时转移和储存大量的有机碳。陆地景观上的植被和土壤可以吸收大量的二氧化碳，并代表重要的有机碳储存。拟议的研究旨在描述与加拿大落基山脉卡纳纳斯基陡峭流域相关的景观地形和形成机制，并将这些发现与与土壤和植被相关的有机碳储存的测量和分析联系起来。这一建议的基础是三个目标：(i)评价加拿大落基山脉卡纳纳斯基河陡峭支流流域的山坡和水道网的地形形成机制和空间组织。这些信息将用于确定陆地有机碳容纳空间位置的控制因素。（ii）测量和分析山坡有机碳。解释坡地土壤和植被有机碳容纳空间和有机碳储量的控制。（iii）测量和分析河岸带的有机碳。解释河岸带土壤和植被有机碳容纳空间和有机碳储量的控制。陆地有机碳与包括气候变化在内的重大区域、全球和社会问题直接相关。虽然本研究调查的亚高山景观在全球范围内面积较小，但考虑到它们对气候变化的敏感性，它们是重要的地点。拟议研究目标的结果将有助于我们了解陆地有机碳及其在全球碳循环中的作用。

Terrestrial organic carbon represents an important component of the global carbon cycle and is related to climate change and land use change through a series of complex feedbacks. Further research is required to better understand mechanisms underlying the retention and transfer of terrestrial carbon, as it remains one of the least understood parts of the carbon cycle. The novel contribution of the proposed research to our understanding of terrestrial carbon is the explicit connection that it makes between controlling factors of topography and locations of accommodation space for organic carbon storage in mountainous landscapes. Hillslope and river systems connect the lithosphere and surface/subsurface water flow with the atmosphere and oceans, while transferring and storing significant amounts of organic carbon. Vegetation and soils on the terrestrial landscape can absorb large amounts of CO2 and represent significant stores of organic carbon. The proposed research seeks to characterize landscape topography and formative mechanisms associated with steep drainage basins in Kananaskis, Canadian Rockies and to connect these findings with measurements and analyses of organic carbon storage associated with soils and vegetation. Three objectives form the basis of this proposal: (i) To evaluate formative mechanisms and spatial organization of topography for hillslopes and channel networks in steep tributary drainage basins, Kananaskis River, Canadian Rockies. This information will be used to determine controlling factors of locations of accommodation space for terrestrial organic carbon. (ii) To measure and analyze hillslope organic carbon. To explain controls of organic carbon accommodation spaces and organic carbon stocks for soils and vegetation on hillslopes. (iii) To measure and analyze organic carbon in the riparian zone. To explain controls of organic carbon accommodation spaces and organic carbon stocks for soils and vegetation in the riparian zone. Terrestrial organic carbon is directly related to significant regional, global and societal issues, including climate change. Although the subalpine landscapes investigated in this study have a low areal extent globally, they are significant locations given their sensitivity to climate change. The outcomes of the proposed research objectives will contribute to our knowledge of terrestrial organic carbon and its role in the global carbon cycle.